Ted Strickland on Gun Control

Democratic Governor; previously Representative (OH-6)

Supports background checks; close terror watchlist loophole

Q: What kinds of gun safety regulations should be passed into law?

Strickland: Like many Americans, I have been deeply troubled and saddened by the escalation of violence in our country--we must do more to keep weapons out of the hands of those who
would do harm. We should be implementing commonsense and effective ideas to reduce gun violence, like ensuring background checks are conducted on all gun sales and closing the loophole allowing those on the terror watch list to buy guns. I believe these
proposals are consistent with our Second Amendment rights and are the most effective ways to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals, terrorists and those with legitimate mental illnesses. Unfortunately, Senator Portman voted against both of these
proposals. I also support passage of the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act so that gun manufacturers can no longer hide behind a legal shield that gives them protections from liability enjoyed by virtually no other industry.

2010: Pro-gun & NRA endorsed; 2016: end gun epidemic

In Ohio, the quintessential presidential battleground, Democrat Ted Strickland campaigned as pro-gun in 2010 when he was running for reelection as governor. He even got the NRA endorsement over John Kasich.
Six years later, he's his party's nominee against Republican Sen. Rob Portman and sounding a different tune: "I grew up in rural Appalachia, and I believe in the Second Amendment,"
Strickland writes. "My creator also gave me eyes & ears, a heart & brain--and the capacity to use all of them to assess the challenges facing our country. There is no denying that America is facing a pressing and heartbreaking epidemic of gun violence.
The victims have been school children, moviegoers, parishioners and now dancers at a nightclub. Our leaders in Washington like Senator Portman are not taking simple, commonsense steps to keep weapons out of the hands of those who would do us harm."

OpEd: Worked for anti-gun group, but never renounced NRA

P.G. Sittenfeld took a jab at Ted Strickland for refusing to "renounce" the˙National Rifle Association. Sittenfeld criticized both Strickland and incumbent Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) for doing the "bidding" of the NRA:

"Gun safety is absolutely a top
issue. Still waiting on Ted Strickland & Rob Portman to renounce their NRA support," Sittenfeld wrote on Twitter.

Strickland received an A+ rating from the NRA during his failed 2010 re-election campaign against John Kasich. "Our members will interpret
your 'A+' rating and endorsement as an indication that you are a pro-Second Amendment, pro-hunting candidate who supports sportsmen and gun-owners on every issue," the˙chair of the NRA's Political Victory Fund wrote to Strickland in a letter at the time.

Though Strickland went on to work for the Center for American Progress, which is decidedly anti-gun, he has yet to, as Sittenfeld stated, "renounce" his pro-gun voting record in Congress.

Against ban on semi-automatic rifles; for concealed carry

Ted Strickland has a pro-gun voting record in Congress. As such, he was endorsed by both the NRA and Buckeye Firearms Association last May. In the early days of his gubernatorial campaign, he spoke out against a Columbus ban on most semi-automatic rifles
that cost the city $20 million in convention revenue, voiced support for Ohio's two year-old concealed carry law, and told legislators they should pass a bill which would prevent municipal gun control laws and make firearms laws uniform across the state.

Source: Chad D. Baus on www.buckeyefirearms.org
, Sep 5, 2006

Repeal restrictions on law-abiding citizens owning firearms

Indicate which principles you support concerning gun issues.

Repeal all bans and measures that restrict law-abiding citizens from owning legally-obtained firearms.

A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others. A YES vote would:

Prohibit individuals from filing a qualified civil liability action

Exempt lawsuits brought against individuals who knowingly transfer a firearm that will be used to commit a violent or drug-trafficking crime

Exempt lawsuits against actions that result in death, physical injury or property damage due solely to a product defect

Dismiss of all civil liability actions pending on the date of enactment

Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse.

Vote to pass a bill that would prohibit liability lawsuits from being brought against gun manufacturers and dealers based on the criminal misuse of firearms. The bill would also block these actions from being brought up against gun trade organizations and against ammunition makers and sellers. The measure would apply immediately to any pending cases. Several specific exceptions to the ban exist. This includes civil suits would be allowed against a maker or dealer who "knowingly and willfully violated" state or federal laws in the selling or marketing of a weapon. Design and manufacturing defect lawsuits are also permitted when weapons are "used as intended.

While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. But our successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts and countless hours of service our nearly three million members have given to champion Second Amendment rights and support NRA programs.

The following ratings are based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionaire sent to all Congressional candidates; the NRA assigned a letter grade (with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest).

The Christian Coalition voter guide [is] one of the most powerful tools Christians have ever had to impact our society during elections. This simple tool has helped educate tens of millions of citizens across this nation as to where candidates for public office stand on key faith and family issues.

The CC survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Further restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms"